Why did you decide to become a private coach?
Teaching privately allows for an understanding between coach and athlete that does not always occurs in a group. Private instruction is the quickest and most effective way to learn Chinese martial arts. It allows for hands on instruction and immediate feedback. Private instruction also allows me as the coach to tailor the training to the individual.
What do you enjoy most about coaching?
As a coach the reward for me is knowing that I was able to help transform the student from where they were to a new level of skill. When you are young, winning medals and being the best you can be, is your joy. As you age, passing on your skill and knowledge to someone new and seeing them win medals and being the best they can be, becomes your joy.
What can a client expect from private lessons with you?
They can expect to know why. When I teach a lesson, I want the student to understand why they are doing the drill they are doing. This is for two reasons; one, I want them to know the principle behind the drill, and two, knowing why helps the student determine if the drill is working for them or if the drill needs to be modified.
What is your coaching style/philosophy?
Collaboration, I work with the the student to help them reach their goals. I don’t expect nor do I want them to move exactly like me. I want each student to express the art in their own way. As my teacher says, “they are to paint their own picture.”
Who is your favorite coach and why?
Tim Norman, he was not yet a black belt and was invited to try out for the ’76 US Olympic Judo team; he was on the first US Shaui Jiao team, and he was a US Army Ranger. But the most important thing to me is that he is by far the best coach/instructor I ever had, and he taught me how to teach. If I reach half of his skill as a coach, I will be in the top ten percent of coaches.
What is your favorite sport in the Olympics to watch besides your own sport and why?
Gymnastics, I admire the athleticism. The strength, flexibility, coordination and balance displayed by those folks is awesome. They would make great martial artists.
